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United States Patent | 6,199,823 |
Dahlgren ,   et al. | March 13, 2001 |
A solenoid actuated valve includes a valve body and a sleeve armature slidably mounted on the valve body for movement between a flow preventing position and positions away from the flow preventing position. In one embodiment, the sleeve armature and the valve body are configured and arranged to define flow diverters in fluid flow paths to provide flow balance. The movement of the sleeve armature between closed and open positions is controlled by first and second solenoid coils, and, the sleeve armature is maintained in the position to which it has been driven by residual magnetism. In another embodiment, a solenoid actuated valve includes a bias structure for urging the sleeve armature toward the closed position. The solenoid actuated fluid flow control valve is described with reference to an application for inflating inflatable restraints for an occupant of a vehicle.
Inventors: | Dahlgren; Derek A. (Wauwatosa, WI); Stobbs; Thomas J. (Brookfield, WI); Ward; James R. (Milwaukee, WI) |
Assignee: | TLX Technologies (Waukesha, WI) |
Appl. No.: | 398607 |
Filed: | September 17, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 251/117; 251/129.07; 251/129.15; 251/344; 335/279 |
Intern'l Class: | H01F 007/08; B60R 002/16; F16K 031/02 |
Field of Search: | 251/129.07,129.01,129.15,129.21,117,127,343,344 335/256,261,269,279 280/735 |
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